Quilt Show! Quilt Show!

twofatcats

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I've been promising some of the quilt lovers on thecatsite for a couple of years that one of these days I'd put together a mini-quilt show as a thread. Well, I'm obviously never going to get as many ready for the web at one time as I thought, but since I just got a reasonably decent photo of the latest quilt, I thought I'd at least start.

I'll add additional quilts to this thread from time to time if you want to see more. Right now I have about 50 quilt tops sitting around in boxes ready to donate to world relief projects as soon as I get them pressed and photographed. I could add some of the nicer ones to this thread in a few weeks or months if you like.

None of these quilts are for sale. I do not take special orders.


The first quilt is one I recently finished for my own bedroom.




I won most of these Sunbonnet Sue quilt blocks in a drawing at my quilt guild about ten or eleven years ago. I finally got them made into a quilt last fall.




The "quilt" below is a real mini-quilt. It is about 4½ inches square. I use it as a mug mat.




I usually use quite simple patterns in my charity quilts. Here are two in the same "Brick Road" pattern made in different colors.






When I first started making quilt tops for the world relief projects, I used strictly donated fabrics. Those in the two photos below are examples. Those on the wall in the top photo were all made from used bed sheets, the remaining quilts from whatever materials were donated. I now usually use my own fabrics. Though it may come out of my own pocket, it is much more fun to make something where one has more opportunity to choose the colors one wishes.

Yes, the person in the photo is me. About ten or eleven years ago.



 

sweetiecat3

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Wow, your quilts are stunning!! What patience you must have to be able to do that. I think it's great you've been donating so much, or are planning on donating at least, to World Relief projects


I'd love to see more pictures, no rush though!
 

evnshawn

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Wow, you're so talented! I really love the one on your bed, the rich colors and modern design are nifty. And the Sunbonnet Sue one is very cute as well. Also—yes, more pictures.
 

KittenKrazy

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From a fellow quilter.....AWESOME!!!!! Am terribly, terribly jealous of those Sunbonnet Sue's you have there......why can't I ever wiin anything like that......all I ever get are potted plants, rofl!

Agree too with the above poster....MORE PICS!!(I however, know how hard that can be to do, lmao!)
 

gailc

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Do you have one of those fancy quilting machines that does the topstitching???
How long to put a quilt together (and keep cat hair off)??
 

shanstar

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Oh wow
I love them! You're very talented.. I'm jealous. I just recently learned to knit and I'm addicted. My friend is a pretty good quilter, and she's going to show me how soon. I can't wait.

The first and second are my faves, I think.
 

lillekat

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Oooooo I love them!! I'd never have the patience to finish even one (that and I relly REALLY suck with a sewing machine) Yes, I have stitched myself to things before now.... and yes, it was my fingers. It hurt
and the blood ruined my stitching anyhow!!


They are really something special! More pics!
 
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twofatcats

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Originally Posted by GailC

Do you have one of those fancy quilting machines that does the topstitching???
No, I don't. I quilt the smaller ones on a regular sewing machine and have started hiring someone who does have a large quilting machine to quilt the really large ones. To me it is the designing and piecing that is the most fun, anyway. The top two shown were actually quilted by someone else. The first one is an original design that I designed on the computer using Electric Quilt software.

Originally Posted by GailC

How long to put a quilt together (and keep cat hair off)??
Oh, that varies so much! I try to keep my charity quilts to something I can cut and piece in between eight and sixteen hours. Then I turn the pieced tops over to other committee members at church who add batting and backing, then stitch it together envelope style, turn and tie it. Occasionally, I'll make an exception and do something much more time-consuming for charity, like the one with all the applique flowers. But usually I reserve the really time-consuming patterns for family gifts or myself. And those can take up to 100 or 200 hours or who knows, really? I never have been successful in keeping an accurate count. When I quilt them myself, I always machine quilt. I have too much arthritis in my hands to hand quilt. Anyone who hand quilts might spend much more time.

As to keeping cat hair off, oh, that is a problem! I've never really managed to do it. In fact on post 21 of the following thread, you can see how Sheba used the quilt for my bed before I even got it finished.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...t=40641&page=2
 

beckiboo

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What a wonderful gift to share with the needy! You have no idea how something made with love can warm a person's heart as well as their body!

When my now 17 y/o son was born, the hospital guild ladies made a large stocking for him to be brought to me in (he was born Dec 6th), and he came home with a flannel baby blanket that was also hand made. I still have both, and will pass them on to him when (if?) he marries someday. They are almost as precious to me as the handmade items I received from family members!

I realize the blankets may be auctioned off for money for the poor, but I prefer to think of them laying on the bed of a cold lonely child, helping to warm their body and soul!
 
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twofatcats

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Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I realize the blankets may be auctioned off for money for the poor, but I prefer to think of them laying on the bed of a cold lonely child, helping to warm their body and soul!
Though I have allowed a few of mine to be sold so the money can be used to help the cause, I require the group to send most of mine for direct use by the needy. Some may be sent to orphanages or to others who have housing. Many are used in refugee camps by victims of war, famine, or earthquake where people may not even have beds.

Often I'll hear the remark, "But that is too nice to send to world relief!" And my reaction is, "Everyone, everywhere likes something pretty, regardless of how little money they have. This could be the only pretty thing they have ever owned."
 

jcat

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Your quilts are absolutely gorgeous, and how good of you to donate your time and skill to helping the needy.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by twofatcats

None of these quilts are for sale. I do not take special orders.
too bad - they're all beautiful!
Originally Posted by twofatcats

The "quilt" below is a real mini-quilt. It is about 4½ inches square. I use it as a mug mat.

This one is very pretty...
Originally Posted by twofatcats

that blue one with the yellow in the middle is awesome
- i've never seen a combination like that before!
 

me-n-my guys

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Originally Posted by twofatcats

Often I'll hear the remark, "But that is too nice to send to world relief!" And my reaction is, "Everyone, everywhere likes something pretty, regardless of how little money they have. This could be the only pretty thing they have ever owned."
And what a wonderful, personal way to say it!
It makes your work even more beautiful-I'll be looking forward to seeing more posted!
 

AbbysMom

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Your quilts are absolutely gorgeous. It's wonderful the way you bring a bright spot of sunshine into people's lives.
 
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twofatcats

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Well, I found photos of two more of my quilts in a separate folder on my hard drive. These are both table runners. The first one is a bargello design I made for sale several years back when I was doing that. The second one is an Easter runner I made as a gift to a relative.

After this, I'll have to wait until I get my new scanner set up to scan photos of some of my older quilts or until I get photos of some of the charity quilt tops I have ready to donate. What is taking me so long about the latter project is that I just hate ironing, and they must all be ironed before I can get a decent photo. Man, how I hate ironing!




 

anakat

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Wow,
they are all stunning, I love the colours of the table runners.
anne
 

jcat

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They're so gorgeous! I'm originally from Pennsylvania, where handmade quilts crafted by Amish (and Laotian) women are auctioned off at top prices at state and county fairs all the time, and yours are every bit as beautiful, if not more so, because you use more colors.
Can we use your patterns as siggy backgrounds?
 
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